Videos: Walk, vigil held for missing Albany man

Family and friends of Reny Jose, who went missing in Florida in March, gather in Academy Park on Sunday to walk and hold a vigil for him.
J.S. Carras — The Record

ALBANY >> A local man’s spring break disappearance has left many heartbroken but hopeful for his safe return.

Family and friends of Reny Jose, the missing 21-year-old Albany native, gathered Sunday at Academy Park to raise awareness and support for the search. The “Walk For Reny” was led by his family from the park to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where a candlelight vigil was held.

Eight weeks since his disappearance, this was the third local event held to raise awareness of their situation. Hundreds attended in support of the family.

“The events have helped to keep Reny’s story alive,” said Reashma Jose, Reny’s older sister and only sibling.

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Jose was last seen on March 3 in Panama City Beach, Fla. while on a spring-break getaway with 22 classmates from Rice University in Texas, where Jose was studying to be a mechanical engineer.

Originally from Albany, Jose is a Shaker High School graduate. He has not been seen or heard from since he left the beach house at 6:30 p.m. on the evening of his disappearance.

Jose is a 5-foot, 10-inch, 185-pound Indian male with short, black hair and dark brown eyes.

“He’s a very smart, kindhearted overall good person,” his sister said. “He’s always the one who’s cracking jokes and the life of the party.”

As his would-be graduation date quickly approaches, local efforts are being made to locate Jose.

“Reny deserves the chance to walk across that stage on May 17,” his sister said.

To date, the circumstances of his disappearance and his whereabouts remain a complete mystery. His clothes and personal items were found in a garbage can near the house. Florida police are searching for clues, while his family and friends are praying for his safe return.

New York state and Panama City have been supportive in helping the family search, Reashma said. Reny Jose’s college, however, was insensitive, she shared at the ceremony Sunday. Only after Albany’s government stepped in did the school take an actively involved role.

His travel buddies did not act ideally either.

“None of his friends, with certainty, claimed to have seen him leave the house the night he went missing,” Reashma Jose said. Adding to the ambiguous nature of the situation, many of Reny Jose’s friends left town within 24 hours of his disappearance, and authorities conducted interviews via phone.

Reashma Jose posed a question on behalf of the family.

“If the students rented a beach house for an entire week, why did they leave so hastily?” she asked. His companions did not try to aid in the search effort.

But local support is keeping his loved ones optimistic.

“Reny is a very bright kid, he’s very studious,” said Shaker Baswa, who has known the family for about a decade. “His only goal was to go to college, which he did, and unfortunately nobody knows what happened.”

Jose had a 4.0 grade-point average at Rice University prior to his disappearance.

As president of the Tri-city Indian Association, Baswa has been helping the family in their efforts. Unsatisfied with the results so far, “It’s very surprising, they don’t know anything other than he’s missing,” he said. “That’s the only thing they know.”

A lack of evidence and very few leads leave the case at a standstill, but the family is not losing hope.

“At this point in time, we are pleading for assistance from the federal government in the search for Reny,” Reashma Jose said.

Hundreds of petitions to New York Sen. Charles Schumer and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder were signed at the event Sunday, to be added to the thousands already collected. The family will be mailing them out shortly.

Local government was present Sunday for the walk.

“It is a very difficult time, not only for Reny’s family, but of the entire community,” Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said. “Our thoughts, our prayers, our concern are with you,” addressing the family. “We share your desire to bring Reny home, and we are walking with you in unity here today, because that is what a Capital City does. It stands with its residents in times of need, and this is a time of need.”

Though information is scarce, going forward “We’re just going to keep searching for answers,” Reashma Jose said. “As a family we will not stop until we find him.”